The Political History of Manipur (Advisory Council Period)

The Government of India, Ministry of States vide notification No. 100-P dated New Delhi, the 18th August 1950, notified that an Advisory Council would be constituted to be associated with the chief commissioner of Manipur in the discharge of his administration. To regulate its constitution and procedure, the following rules were made.

1) The Advisory Council would consist of the chief commissioner and fourteen other members nominated by the Central Government in consultation with the chief commissioner. All residents of Manipur above the age of 21 years would be eligible for nomination.

2) The Chief Commissioner would seek the advice of the council on

(a) all financial matters except that items involving a recurring expenditure of not more than Rs. 1,00,000 need not be referred to the council,

(b) matters of administration general policy, schemes of development and proposals for legislation but not on matters relating to day and day administration or to individual appointments not involving a principle of any importance,

(c) general questions touching the implementation of general policy and schemes of development,

(d) any other matter which the chief commissioner or the government of India might refer to council.

3) Members would have the powers in regard to resolutions and interpellation analogous to and under similar limitation, as those of members of a state legislation subject to the Chief Commissioner’s discretion to refuse in the public interest to give information or to allow discussion.

4) The functions of the Council would be advisory only.

5) The Council would meet at least once in three months. The Chief Commissioner would preside over all the meetings of the council.

6) Such officers as the Chief Commissioner might permit would be entitled to be present at the meetings, participate in the discussion and furnish information but would not have the right to vote (Manipur Gazette Extraordinary No. 77 E-37 Imphal Friday September 1, 1950)
On 12th September 1950, the Central Government nominated the following as members of the

Manipur Advisory Council:

1. Krishnamohan Singh
2. Samarendra Singh
3. Dwijamani Sarma
4. Jogeswar Singh
5. Indramani Singh
6. A Gourabidhu Singh
7. Md Alimuddin
8. N Ibomcha Singh
9. SL Lunneh
10. Teba Kilong
11. A Daiho
12. R Suisa
13. Solet Kuki
14. M Chandra Singh

[Govt of Manipur orders No. J/84/50/38 dt. Imphal the 16th September 1950 vide Manipur Gazette No. 81-E. 39. Imphal Saturday Septermber 16, 1950]
Manipur State Congress – 5

1) Krishnamohan Singh was president, Manipur State Congress,

2) Samarendra Singh member, working committee, Manipur State Congress,

3) Dwijamani Sharma, member, working committee, Manipur State Congress,

4) Jogeswar Singh, general secretary, Manipur State Congress,

5) Indramani Singh, member working committee, Manipur State Congress (He was a Congressman of the chief minister’s choice).

Praja Santi Sabha 3

1. A Gourbidhu Singh, member Praja Shanti party and ex-minister Manipur State Congress.

2. Md Alimuddin, member, Praja Shanti Party, ex-minister Manipur State Congress.

3. N Ibomacha Singh, secretary, Praja Shanti Party.

Representative of the Hill Tribes – 4

1. SL Lunneh, Kuki leader

2. Teba Kilong, ex-minister, Manipur State Congress and nominee of Khul National Union.

3. A Daiho, leader Mao Maram Nagas.

4. R Suisa, leader Tangkhul Nagas

5. Solet Kuki, Non-Christian Hill chief of the non-christian Hill Chiefs)

M Chandra Singh

The Chief Commissioner of Manipur had to be the ex-officio President of the Advisory Council. On 9th October 1950, Himmat Singh, the chief commissioner inaugurated the Advisory Council at secretariat building.

The inaugural speech of the chief commissioner addressed to the members of the Advisory Council of Manipur at the first session of the council is reproduced here as it throws some information about education, law and order etc. It reads:

Gentlemen, I extend to you a most hearty welcome to this the first sessions of the Advisory Council of Manipur. I pray that God may guide us to think and act solely for the benefit of the people of Manipur as a whole. I hope also that in our onward march we shall constantly remember the needs and potentialities of Manipur’s beautiful hills and their simple and picturesque tribesmen. The vast hill area of the state is still undeveloped and inaccessible its people need your special care and attention.

As an agent of the government of India I am here to execute the policies and instructions of the government of India and since those policies have been fully elaborated and re-stated only recently at Nasik Congress, it is enough for me to say that on all questions, without exceptions, these policies will be fully implemented in Manipur, both in letter and spirit.

Manipur occupies a strategic place of great importance and forms the north-eastern gateway of India. In view of that importance, you should constantly bear in mind the vital fact that Manipur is an integral part of the Republic of India. All Manipuris, Meiteis and Tribesman alike, should therefore think more and more in terms of their rights and obligations as India first, and not merely as residents of the small state of Manipur. People of other parts of India can no longer be treated as ‘foreigners’ and discriminatory treatment against them is neither possible nor wise.
Manipur has a remarkable history and a glorious tradition of her own. Culturally and economically, it can make a substantial contribution to our motherland India – in many spheres. The physical features of the land are unique and with some knowledge of Kashmir, I make bold to say that soil, climate, rainfall and other gifts of nature, combined with the simple character of the people and their great love for art, drama and dance are valuable factors which can, with due attention, make Manipur as charming and attractive to the tourist as Kashmir is.

Manipur is sometimes described as a backward area; in some respects the description is no doubt correct but in some other respects she is in a position to hold the torch to the rest of India. The social and economic system evolved by Manipuris has a lesson for other parts of India.

Untouchability is unknown, the Hindu caste system has been modified so as to eliminate the two lower castes, the Vaishyas and the Shudras completely; the women of Manipur ply over a lakh of handlooms in their cottages and do not waste a single moment of their lives; and though there are no professional Dhobis, men and women alike are, in cleanliness, a model to imitate.

Intellectually, Manipuris are not backward in any sense. A Manipuri boy, Brojamani Mukherji, stood first in the Matriculation Examination of the Gauhati University this year and a hill-boy of Manipur secured the 9th place in the same examination in order of merit. Another Manipuri L Gopal Singh, has made a very promising beginning as a Gazetted officer in the Manipur police. I am confident that the more contact Manipuris have with the rest of India, the more they are bound to shine in all walks of life.

The Communist Party of Manipur has recently dacoits and goondas to its ranks and has committed cowardly crimes. In the interest of Manipur and India the criminal activities of this gang must be brought to an end in the shortest space of time so that the government and people can give their undivided attention to construction work of which there is a great deal to do.

The 5 items of work which I wish to place before you as deserving of the highest priority are:-

(i) Communication, (ii) Primary education, (iii) Medical and veterinary and in villages, (iv) Cottage Industries, specially the handloom industry and (v) Production of more food.

It is hard to determine relative priority among these 5 fields of work. Not one of them can be neglected if Manipur is to be a source of strength to the Republic.

I shall welcome your advice at all times and will weigh it with the greatest care and implement it as fully as I can in the light of the policy of the government of India which it is both my duty and privilege to carry out and to the extent of the financial resources available to us.

One word more before I end this brief speech. Dis-unity and faction mean weakness and frittering away of energy and opportunity. Therefore, think and act unitedly and your voice cannot fail to be heard.

Sd/- Himmat Singh (chief commissioner), 9th October 1950, Secretariat building, Imphal.